Stretcher device for shirt collars and the like



@pt 6, 1949.. c, JOHNSON STRETCHER DEVICE FOR SHIRT COLLARS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 4, 1947 INVENTOR. .CLAZ/Df M L/0H/V50/V f ATTORNEY S.

Patented Sept. 6, 1949 STRETCHER DEV'HJE FOR SHIRT (DOLLARS AND THE Claude U. Johnson, Lakewood, Ohio Application August 4, 1947, Serial No; 766,001

3 Claims. l.

This invention relates to" a device or mechanism for stretching portions of garments, for example shirt collars which have shrunk as in laundering, or in any case where enlargement of circumferential size is desired, thus indicating the general object.

Treatment of fabrics supposed to render them shrink proof is not always effective and sometimes garments are sold with erroneous size indications. The problem is most frequently presented in the case of shirt collars, both in respect to improper size marking and shrinkage. Tight collars are not only uncomfortable but unhealthful, yet for the sake of appearance they are usually worn rather than discarded. The present invention makes its possible and practical to enlarge shrunk or under-size collars and the like without the requirement of relaundering and without impairment to the fabric, thus indicating a further object.

A further object is to provide a stretcher for shirt collars and the like which is simple, easily manipulatable by inexperienced persons and which has provision for enlarging the collar while buttoned, so that the amount of effective enlargement can be controlled within the desired limits.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following description of the preferred forms shown in the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view showing frontal portions of the device in operation on a collar, the latter being diagrammatically shown;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 3 is a central sectional view as indicated at 3-3 on Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View showing a modification.

The device, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises two substantially rigid arcuate members I and 2 preferably made from sheet metal and complementing each other in one relative position to form a circle. Thus the members I and 2 may be easily made from longitudinally split tubing of the necessary length to support average collars. The collar supporting members I and 2 are preferably made so that when their adjacent edges I and 2' are brought together, the support is substantially circular and of a diameter considerably less than the size of the collar or collars to be treated. The supporting members are connected for controlled separation by strut members operable on the collar supports as by screw means to spread said members apart, thereby enlarging the collar encircling the two supports. Specifically and as shown, the support member l has a rigid bar't secured: thereto as by welding at i and additionally by a crossmember 5 in spaced. relation to the joint 4 and joined to the member I as by further welding at 6. The bar 3 extends into a metal tube 8 of substantial rigidity firmly connected to the collar support 2. As shown, the tube 8 extends tightly through a complementary opening in the support member 2 and is welded to the latter as at 9. The outer end wall It of the tube is centrally apertured and threaded at ll to receive an operating screw [2, the inner end of which is arranged to bear against the adjacent inner end face l3 of the bar 3. To prevent relative rotation of the collar supports I and 2 out of operative alignment, the bar 3 and tube 8 are slidably connected or, in effect, splined to each other as by a cross pin IS on the bar 3 occupying a longitudinal slot [6 in the tube 8. The screw l2 has a suitable operating handle H.

To mount the collar on the device, the screw I2 is retracted until the supports l and 2 are brought together sufficiently loosely to receive the collar and then the collar is passed around the supports as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1 and buttoned as at B as usual, so that the collar occupies approximately its normal position as when worn. In order that the button will not be pulled off in stretching the collar, clamp assemblies 3 are provided at the front of the support 2 in position to force the forward portions of both thicknesses of the collar structure tightly against the support 2. The clamp assemblies may comprise simply identical rectangular clamp bars 28 supported on suitable threaded pins 2| projecting radially from the support 2 and disposed equal distances from the vertical plane of the stretcher mechanism 3, 8, l2. The pins may comprise standard threaded bolts, as shown, with their heads 22 secured as by welding to the inner face of the Support 2. Readily manipulatable means to operate the clamp bars may comprise wing nuts 23 on respective threaded shanks of the pins 2|. Preferably also the inner faces of the clamp bars 20 are provided with cushioned pads 24 of suitable material, for instance paper, cloth or rubber, although I have found that the bare metal of the clamp bars 20 does not impair the finish of the laundered collar provided the metal surfaces are clean.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the threaded pins Zia are in the form of eye bolts supported on a rigid transverse bar 25 connected as by welding at 26 to adjacent side portions of the arcuate support 2. Thus the threaded pins with their clamp bars 26 and wing nuts 23 in attached position may be turned rearwardly out of the way of a collar to be positioned around the stretcher device as previously described. For that purpose, the shanks of the threaded pins enter appropriate vertical slots as at 21 leading downwardly from the top edge of the support 2 a suflicient distance to enable the clamp bars to be brought into fu1l-face engagement with the collar.

It will be apparent that after the collar material has been initially tensioned about the supports I and 2, a comparatively small separating relative movement on part of the supports will stretch the collar considerably more than twice the distance of such relative separation. Due to the mechanical advantage aiTorded by the screw I2, it is a very easy matter to enlarge a collar from one size to another and since the collar is fully supported throughout its entire height, the fabric will not be wrinkled but permanently stretched to the desired form.

I claim:

1. A collar stretcher, comprising a pair of substantially stiff shells in opposed relationship and of suflicient axial extent to support a collar for its entire height, screw means connecting the shells and operable to force them apart, and readily releasable means for holding end marginal portions of the collar against one of said shells.

2. The collar stretcher according to claim 1, wherein said readily releasable means comprises clamp bar members and threaded pins extending from the associated shell outwardly therefrom and through respective bar members and nuts on the threaded shanks of the screws.

3. The construction according to claim 1, wherein said readily releasable means comprises a pair of eye bolts extending outwardly through slots in the associated shell, and means rigid with said shell for supporting the eye bolts so that each may be swung inwardly of the shell to facilitate placement of a collar in stretching position.

CLAUDE U. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,818 Hoyt Feb. 14, 1882 1,586,667 Fournier June 1, 1926 

